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Final Fantasy XI Inquiries
Rudajie
Member Posts: 8
Hello! I have been told by just about everyone that FF XI will either be too hard or too boring for me to enjoy. Well fact of the matter is A.) I love a good struggle and B.) I still play Graal Online so boring is non-existent unless it's WoW. Back to the topic - I have a few questions that may determine if I invest my time into this game.
1.) FF XI is on three platforms, can they all interact with each other? Meaning if I buy it for the 360 and my buddy buys it for the PC can we play together?
2.) This game relies heavily on player interaction, which I am not against. What I am against is relying on player interaction to continue my character's growth at all. I've hard stories of people waiting days for one group in order to complete a mindless quest.
3.) How big of groups are required to really play? If I get a friend or two to join this with me, will the three of us be able to significantly handle a decent sized portion of the game?
Thank-you for any insight on these questions! 
Comments
1) Yes
2) This is true, no groups no growing.
3) no you need a full group to maximize any sort of potential in the group. This is throughout the whole game, if you don't have a full group you won't get anywhere. This is after soloing lvls 1-10 sometimes up to 12 before you head to the dunes.
Well... those three things seem pretty dire to being able to enjoy the game. While it's great to hear the first one, the other two make me want to stray from this. I don't mind a struggle and interacting with players, but if I'm not going to be able to advance for sometimes days on end even with two friends... I guess I just don't know if I'm willing to pay a a monthly fee for a game I might not be able to even grow in.
...?
If you're going to trio with two other friends, you won't have such an issue making parties. Also, you can trio some of the easier mobs and chain for decent exp. You don't always need 6 people for everything you do in the game. That was a little bit of an exaggeration.
A lot of things mission wise and such, that will need groups of 6 or so. You don't have to have 6 party members to be able to exp, it just makes it easier. The game is always easier when you have friends to help each other.
If you have any other questions, I'll answer them the best I can.
To be the best, you must help each other become the best.
FFXI Character: Satimasu
FFXI Server: Valefor
FFXIV Character: Tamorae Fonteil
Read the "To all the new and future players of FFXI" thread
In regards to point 2, I think you can play without groups, depending on the mob and the class you are, also there are tings you can do while waiting for a group if its really needed. You can up ur stats to make you stronger or up your craft skills etc.
seriously, this game is fantastic. it's been around for 6 years. it has the 5th highest player base out of any MMO right now. the waiting for groups isn't really that bad (depending on your job). what most people don't realise is because there are around 20 jobs now and since you can level all 20 with only one character, people need to start over...with every character. so if you are a brand new level 10 whitemage, some guy who has 8 level 75's and more gil than you can write on a piece of paper might invite you. and if you do a /sea all 8-12 or w/e and check what people are using what jobs, you WILL KNOW if it is even worth lfg. also once you get a fairly sizable linkshell all you have to do is /l "anyone want to xp around 10" or something and you'll at least get a few people who will want to join up.
fact is, game is great. please don't sleep on it as most people seem to have. it's getting old and looks a bit dated now, but the story and pve is the best out of any mmo. it's the hardest and highest risk/reward crafting.
Some people say that you cannot solo this game, but you can, they just haven't tried.
It IS true that you will miss out on stuff and this IS a game for grouping but you really CAN develop a player solo-style if YOU want. You'll also do stuff that you won't with the group levelling.
One of my own greatest satisfactions in the game was the feeling when I finally picked up a magicked skull at level 26 (yes 26) so I could get a sub job with my SOLO ONLY character. This character has never partied once and even turned down help for the subjob quest on numerous occasions.
To get from 26 to 30 was pretty tough at about 6 to 8 hours a level, but NOT impossible.
At 30 you can play a BST which can be soloed, I'm trying with a Dancer because I think it can be done.
Yes, I cannot get my rank up to 3, because I cannot solo the dragon with the level cap, but I am still playing the game. I also have a lot more Gil because I'm selling all my stuff and farming as I level. I pick a spot for good money not necessarily fastest level.
I'll probably never reach level 75, particularly as the solo character is an ALT but I've already had lots of fun with it in those moments when I don't fancy grouping.
This game is designed for grouping but people who say you cannot solo are just wrong.
It might not make sense to do it, but you CAN.